HB 1666
AN ACT relating to the expunction of arrest records and files relating to
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill allows individuals with certain nonviolent misdemeanor arrests to have their records expunged after meeting specific conditions, including being placed on deferred adjudication community supervision, receiving a dismissal, and having no subsequent criminal convictions for five years. The bill enables eligible individuals to file a petition to remove arrest records for misdemeanors that do not involve serious offenses like sexual crimes, domestic violence, or specific penal code violations, potentially helping people clear their records and improve future employment and housing opportunities.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the expunction of arrest records and files relating to certain nonviolent misdemeanor offenses. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 55A, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 55A.007 to read as follows: Art. 55A.007. FOLLOWING DEFERRED ADJUDICATION COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR CERTAIN NONVIOLENT MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES. A person to whom this subchapter applies is entitled to have all records and files related to the arrest expunged if: (1) the person is placed under a custodial or noncustodial arrest for a misdemeanor offense other than a (A) Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code; (B) Chapter 25, 42, 43, 46, or 71, Penal Code; (C) Section 48.02, Penal Code; or (2) the person was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter 42A, for the misdemeanor offense described by Subdivision (1) for which the person was arrested and subsequently received a dismissal and discharge under Article 42A.111; (3) the person was not required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62 as a condition of or as a result of the person's placement on deferred adjudication community supervision as described by Subdivision (2); (4) the person has not been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter 42A, for an offense, other than a traffic offense punishable by fine only, committed after the date of the commission of the misdemeanor offense described by Subdivision (1) for which the person was placed on deferred adjudication community supervision as described by Subdivision (2); (5) there are no charges pending against the person for the commission of any offense, other than a traffic offense (6) a period of not less than five years has passed since the date on which the person received the dismissal and discharge described by Subdivision (2). SECTION 2. Article 55A.251, Code of Criminal Procedure, is Art. 55A.251. FILING OF PETITION. (a) A person who is entitled to expunction of records and files under Article 55A.002, 55A.004, or 55A.005 or Subchapter B, or a person who is eligible for expunction of records and files under Article 55A.101, may, subject to Article 55A.252, file an ex parte petition for expunction in a district court for the county in which: (1) the petitioner was arrested; or (2) the offense was alleged to have occurred. (b) A person who is entitled to expunction of records and files under Article 55A.007 may file an ex parte petition for expunction in the court that placed the person on deferred adjudication community supervision. SECTION 3. Article 55A.253, Code of Criminal Procedure, is Art. 55A.253. CONTENTS OF PETITION. (a) An ex parte petition filed under Article 55A.251, 55A.252, or 55A.257 must be verified and must include, with respect to the person who is the subject of the petition, the following or an explanation for why one or more of the following is not included: (F) social security number; and (G) address at the time of the arrest; (3) the date the offense charged was alleged to have (5) the name of the county of arrest and if the arrest occurred in a municipality, the name of the municipality; (6) the name of the arresting agency; (7) the case number and court of offense; and (8) together with the applicable physical or e-mail (A) law enforcement agencies, jails or other detention facilities, magistrates, courts, attorneys representing the state, correctional facilities, central state depositories of criminal records, and other officials or agencies or other entities of this state or of any political subdivision of this state; (B) central federal depositories of criminal records that the person who is the subject of the petition has reason to believe have records or files that are subject to (C) private entities that compile and disseminate for compensation criminal history record information that the person who is the subject of the petition has reason to believe have information related to records or files that are (b) In addition to the information required under Subsection (a), an ex parte petition filed under Article 55A.251(b) (1) the person was not required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62 as a condition of or as a result of the person's placement on deferred adjudication community supervision as described by Article 55A.007(3); (2) the person has not been convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision under Subchapter C, Chapter 42A, for an offense, other than a traffic offense punishable by fine only, committed after the date of the commission of the misdemeanor offense for which the person seeks an order of (3) there are no charges pending against the person for the commission of any offense, other than a traffic offense SECTION 4. Article 55A.257, Code of Criminal Procedure, is Art. 55A.257. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY MAY FILE PETITION ON PERSON'S BEHALF. The director of the Department of Public Safety or the director's authorized representative may file on behalf of a person described by Article 55A.251(a) [55A.251] or 55A.256 an ex parte petition for expunction in a district court for the county in (1) the person was arrested; or (2) the offense was alleged to have occurred. SECTION 5. Article 102.006(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, (b) The fees under Subsection (a) or the fee under Subsection (a-1), as applicable, shall be waived if: (1) the petitioner seeks expunction of a criminal record that relates to an arrest for an offense of which the person was acquitted, other than an acquittal for an offense described by Article 55A.151, and the petition for expunction is filed not later than the 30th day after the date of the acquittal; or (2) the petitioner is entitled to expunction under any provision of Chapter 55A and the court finds that the petitioner is SECTION 6. This Act applies to an expunction of arrest records and files relating to any misdemeanor offense that was committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the expunction of arrest records and files relating to
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